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Minutes for HB2686 - Committee on Water
Short Title
Creating the Kansas department of water and environment within the executive branch and transferring the duties of certain offices to such department, establishing the water and environment maintenance fund and the water and environment maintenance board, modifying election procedures for groundwater management districts, establishing a water rights fee on owners of water rights and permits to appropriate water for beneficial use, authorizing the chief engineer to issue certain orders without review by the secretary of water and environment, increasing water protection fees, establishing a civil penalty for obstructions in streams violations and establishing the water structures emergency fund.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 17, 2022
Chairperson Highland opened the hearing for HB2686
The Chairperson opened the hearing for opponents
Dan Meyerhoff, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, testified an opponent (Attachment 1)
Mark Rude, Southwest Groundwater District 3, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 2) Responded to questions on who participates on groundwater districts. Control of ground water district, voting requirements, how are environmental goals are set, and involvement of municipalities.
Bret Oelke, Groundwater Management District 4, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 3), express concerned about water fees and term limits. Mr Oelke responded to questions on water board size and profile of board members participating in ground water district 4.
Tim Boese, Ground Water Management District 2, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 4) Mr. Boese responded to usage questions.
Aaron Popelka, Kansas Livestock Association, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 5) Mr. Popelka responded to questions on property rights and jurisdictions issues.
Brent Rogers, Kansas Corn Growers Association, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 6)
Ken Moore, Water Pack, (Attachment 7)
David Brenn, Kansas Water Congress, (Attachment 8)
Kent Askern, Kansas Farm Bureau, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 9)
Titus Jaeger, testified as an opponent, (Attachment 10)
Stuart Beckman, Farmer, submitted written testimony as an opponent, (Attachment 11)
Brandi Miller, Kansas Agriculture Alliance, submitted written testimony as an opponent, (Attachment 12)
Brent Beckman, Farmer, (Attachment 13)
Kirk Heger, Southwest Kansas Irrigation Association, submitted written testimony as an opponent, (Attachment 14)
Randy Hayzlett, Farmer, submitted written testimony as an opponent, (Attachment 15)
Sara Baer, Kansas Biological Survey&Center for Ecological Research, testified as a neutral,(Attachment 16)
David Barfield, Kansas Society of Professional Engineers, testified as a neutral, (Attachment 17) discussed dam safety and license professional engineers
Fred Jones, Water Resource Manager Garden City, testified as a neutral, (Attachment 18) Mr. Jones responded to question regarding partnership with state agencies regarding their water conservation programs.
Chairperson Highland closed the on HB2686 hearing and adjourned the meeting at 11:10 am.
